DNG Benefits

May 20, 2009

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Employer Support

ESGR is a Department of Defense agency with a mission to promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees by recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of the law and resolving conflicts through mediation. It is the lead DoD organization for this mission under DoD Directive 1250.1.

Space A Travel

Space available on military aircraft. Guard members can fly anywhere in The Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. When the Guard member (sponsor) retires and receives full benefits at age 60, eligible family members may travel with the sponsor to destinations outside the Continental U.S.

Commissary

Commissary Privileges. Guard members now have unlimited commissary privileges. The commissary is a non-profit grocery store that can save you about 20-25% in your food bill.

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR).

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities may be available to members on active duty for training or on annual training. Facilities located at most military installations: craft & auto repair shops, swimming pools, golf course, bowling lanes, fitness centers & lodging.

Bethany Beach Training Site

Open to active and retired guardmembers. The post is located 3 blocks form the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 14 miles for Ocean City Maryland and 10 miles Rehoboth Beach Delaware.

On Post Activities
Physical Fitness room with sauna
Recreation Hall (billiards/ping pong)
Picnic Area (with BBQ pits, salt pond and extended dock…great for fishing!)
½ Mile Padded Track
Volley Ball Court
Equipment Rental: Row boats
Canoes
Sports equipment

Education

Free aptitude testing.

Insurance

SGLI insurance coverage 365 days a year for nominal fee. This insurance has maximum coverage of $250,000.00 for only $16.25 per month. SGLI offers low-cost protection, and the small monthly premium is from base pay. This is a great opportunity to provide for the welfare of your family. Does your family know how much life insurance coverage you have and where the policies are located?

Retirement

Retirement benefits. Guard members are eligible for retirement once they reach 60 years of age and complete 20 years of certifiable service. Each day of active service can count toward your retirement. Guard members earn one retirement point for each day of active service, one for each day of full-time service while on active duty for training, and one point for each drill. Other points may be earned during extra training or instruction.

Legal

The Legal Officer can offer help with a number of minor legal affairs as a wiII and power of attorney, etc.

VA Home Loan

VA guaranteed loans are made by private lenders, such as banks, savings & loans, or mortgage companies to eligible veterans for the purchase of a home which must be for their own personal occupancy. To get a loan, a veteran must apply to a lender. If the loan is approved, VA will guarantee a portion of it to the lender. This guaranty protects the lender against loss up to the amount guaranteed and allows a veteran to obtain favorable financing terms. There is no maximum VA loan but lenders will generally limit VA loans to $203,000. This is because lenders sell VA loans in the secondary market, which currently places a $203,000 limit on the loans. For loans up to this amount, it is usually possible for qualified veterans to obtain no downpayment financing. A veteran's maximum entitlement is $36,000 (or up to $50,750 for certain loans over $144,000). Lenders will generally loan up to 4 times a veteran's available entitlement without a downpayment, provided the veteran is income and credit qualified and the property appraises for the asking price (for those who qualify).

Survivors Benefits

Eligibility for burial in National Cemetery based upon availability.

Military Death Gratuity. A payment for Guard members who die on active duty or active duty for training.

Health Care

Medical insurance for military family members and retirees (usually to age 65) is provided under TRICARE.

Health Care Cost

Starting October 1, 2007, The Department of Defense healthcare system known as TRICARE Select is now available to all members of the Delaware National Guard at only 28% of the actual cost. Monthly costs for traditional members are as follows:

$ 81 per month for a single Soldier or Airman

$ 253 per month for a Soldier or Airman and their family

This was made possible through the hard work of our professional organizations such as the National Guard Association (NGAUS), Enlisted Association of the National Guard (EANGUS) and Adjutants General Association (AGAUS) working with our congressional delegation.

Dental

Guardsmen are eligible for Tricare Dental. See link section for site information.

ID Card DEERS & RAPIDS

To take advantage of your National Guard benefits, YOU and your family members must have an identification (ID) card. The benefits authorized by the ID cards will vary. Family members who are eligible for ID cards include the members:

Spouse (and some former spouses).
Unremarried widow or widower.
Children at age 10 and unmarried children under the age of 21 (including adopted children).
Children under age 10 may be eligible for an ID card if they are not living with a family member who is eligible for an ID cad, or under special circumstances, such as living with a sole parent.
Unmarried children between 21 and 23 who are attending college full time.
Unmarried children over 21, if incapable of self-support due to a physical or mental incapacity which existed either prior to the 21st birthday, or between the 21st and 23rd birthday while a legal dependent as a full-time college student. This must be established in DEERS and they must be dependent upon the Guard member for more than one-half of their financial support.
Under certain circumstances, other family members can be certified as legal dependents and be eligible for ED cards. They include unmarried illegitimate children, parents or parents-in-law, or an unmarried person in the service member's legal custody for at least 12 months. Ask your personnel or legal assistance officer for advice on this matter.
You will need to prove eligibility to get your family's ID cards verified, so have these documents available:
Marriage certificate. (Clear photocopy is acceptable.)
Birth certificates of children. (Clear photocopy is acceptable.)
Certified copy of court order for adoption.
Certified copy of court order establishing paternity (for illegitimate children).
Certified copy of death certificates.
Certified copies of divorce decree.

DEERS

When the service member and his or her family apply for an ID card, each family member will complete a DEERS (Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System) form. The DEERS system verifies that you and your family are eligible for medical care (if you were called for active duty or active duty training for more than 30 days).

PAY AND ALLOWANCES

Basic Pay

The amount of basic pay is determined by the length of time in the service, by rank and promotions and increases received. All active duty personnel receive basic pay. Military personnel may also receive an allowance (partial reimbursement) for specific expenses such as food or housing.

Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)

BAS is a non-taxable allowance for food. Officers receive this allowance regardless of grade. Enlisted members may receive this allowance based on the availability of government mess (dining facility), or if authorized to mess (eat) separately when government mess is available. Normally, enlisted members who are living in government quarters are required to eat in dining facilities on the bases and therefore would not be entitled to BAS.

Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ)

BAQ is a non-taxable allowance for housing. The amount of BAQ is determined by rank and by whether or not there are family members. This allowance partially reimburses military personnel for their housing expenses if they live in civilian communities. A member with dependents who lives in government family-type quarters is not entitled to BAQ. A member without dependents who lives in the barracks receives partial BAQ.

Variable Housing Allowance (VHA)

Guard members called to active duty for less than 140 days are not entitled to the Variable Housing Allowance (except for contingency operations). VHA supplements the BAQ when the cost of housing in a certain area is higher than the BAQ. Most service members living off-base in most stateside communities receive VHA. The amount of VHA received depends upon housing costs in the area in which a service member is stationed.

Clothing Allowance

The monthly clothing allowance enables enlisted members to care for and replace their uniforms. Officers receive an initial allowance to purchase military clothing but do not receive a replacement/maintenance allowance. An extra clothing allowance may be authorized for special requirements or types of duty, but this would be very limited.

Special Pay

Pay may also include additional pay for dangerous, highly skilled, or undesirable assignments. For example, flight pay is a special monthly pay to pilots, crew members, and flight surgeons.

Hazardous Duty Pay is a special monthly pay for certain hazardous duty, including demolition work and parachuting.

Hostile Fire / Imminent Danger Pay - This pay is for service members serving within an officially declared hostile fire/imminent danger zone. This pay is set at the same rate for officers and enlisted members. It is not paid unless declared by Congress.